Through the 1-Way Mirror Social Relations

SIXTEEN people are sitting around a large circular table. A few private conversations have begun and ended. The sixteen are now sitting silently, looking at each other.

Person A: "Well, last session we were talking about drugs."

B: "I think that you wanted to make the first comment today because you'd like to take on a leadership role in this section."

A: "That's not true."

B: "Is so."

A: "Is not."

C: "I think it's true, A. What difference does it make that we were talking about drugs last time?"

A: "All right, all right, I'm sorry I brought it up. I was only suggesting something for us to talk about."

D: "I'm interested in why you're apologizing for your behavior, A. Don't you have enough confidence in your self to stick up for what you say?"

E: "I don't know what gives you the right to talk. D. Anybody who gets rated upward-negative-backwards, which Bales says means 'toward rugged individualism and gratification.' doesn't have much business telling other people how to act."

D: "It just so happens that I came pretty damn close to being upward-backwards, which means 'toward valuerelativism and expression.' So get fucked. E."

F: "This is the first time today we've mentioned sex." Section Leader: "F's comment seems to be arousing anxiety in the group."

G: "It didn't bother me. Did it bother you?"

H: "Hey, you can't ask the section leader questions."

G: "Why not?"

H: "Because he's not in the group."

G: "Then why is he making comments?"

A: "He's got to do something to show that he's the leader."

H: "No, he's trying to help us understand ourselves."

G: "I already understand myself."

C: "Then why are you taking this course?"

G: "It doesn't have a final."

H: "I'm feeling a lot of hostility towards you, G."

I: "You're bound to feel hostile toward someone if you're cooped up with 15 other people and you're all told to analyze each other."

C: "Have you got something against analysis, I? Afraid something will come out? Huh? Huh?"

F: "Let's get back to sex."

B: "Are you trying a leadership role on for size, F?"

G: "Maybe he just wants to talk about sex."

B: "Man, don't you know anything about this course?

Nobody ever talks about something in here because he wants to; there's always a hidden motive behind it."

G: "What's your motive?"

B: "What's yours?"

G: "I asked you first."

B: "I asked you second."

G: "You're acting like a fifth-grader."

B: "I am not. I know psychology!"

There is a short pause.

J: "I noticed A and K eating together last night."

C: "What gives, K?"

K: "We're friends."

C: "Why didn't you tell the group?"

K: "Uh... well, we're not that good friends."

A: "What do you mean?"

D: "You responded pretty weakly to C, K."

K: "I'm sorry."

D: "Weakling!"

Section Leader: "Time is just about up."

B: "I thought today's session was really good. This is the only place around Harvard where people relate honestly to each other."

G: "But all we do is exchange insults."

B: "That's what I mean."